Sepp Blatter deserves Nobel Prize for FIFA work, Russia's Vladimir Putin says
Photos: Russia 2018: The countdown begins
Russian president Vladimir Putin and FIFA president Sepp Blatter open proceedings at the preliminary draw for the 2018 World Cup.
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Photos: Russia 2018: The countdown begins
Singer Polina Gagarina and conductor Valery Gergiev perform at the ceremony to mark the preliminary draw for the 2018 World Cup.
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Photos: Russia 2018: The countdown begins
FIFA official Christian Unger plays his part in Saturday's draw.
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Photos: Russia 2018: The countdown begins
Putin and Blatter (back right) have forged a close relationship. The Swiss has led FIFA since 1998 but decided to stand down on June 2 as football's world governing body battled two corruption scandals.
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Photos: Russia 2018: The countdown begins
Visiting FIFA officials have been made to feel welcome at the Konstantin Palace.
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Photos: Russia 2018: The countdown begins
Russia has had to face more questions over its record in stamping out racism after Ghanaian footballer Emmanuel Frimpong claimed he was subjected to monkey chants from Spartak Moscow fans during the opening of the Russian Premier League season.
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